17:45 Newcastle

Sunday 11 May 2025

All14:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:4518:1518:45

High Gosforth Park Golf Club Handicap

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 1m 24.14s

(8)

Thunder Roar⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 95| D

22/1

Latest win at Redcar in October. First past the post (subsequently demote to second) in 21-runner Spring Mile at Doncaster (1m, good, 25/1) 43 days ago. Likely to go well if as effective back on AW.

Form: 221-002

(1)

Skukuza¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Loughnane| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 95

9/2

Progressed well last term, including runner-up in Britannia at Royal Ascot. Made a sound return from 10 months off when fifth of 10 at Haydock (7f) last month and should be spot on now. Big player under Loughnane.

Form: 3/6212-5

(3)

Local Hero⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 92| D

8/1

Winner at Kempton in December and quickly back on the up when second of 9 in 7f handicap there in March. Respectable third of 6 back on turf at Newmarket since.

Form: 31-4923

(4)

Apotheosis^h,t²⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 90| D

10/3

Winner of a pair of 7f novices on turf last summer. Possibly unsuited by soft ground when last of 4 on Newmarket handicap debut in August, although he did hang and carry his head awkwardly so there might have been more to it (off since). Returns as an unexposed sort. Betting interesting.

Form: 3114-

(2)

Grand Karat³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: T E Whelan| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 88| D

14/1

Two 7f Southwell wins last year. Shaped as if needing run when fourth of 7 on Kempton return 32 days ago. Should be sharper now and Harry Charlton has his team in form. Considered.

Form: 88131-4

(7)

United Approach³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee| T: J Tate| OR: 87| BF

9/2

15/8, respectable third (Grand Karat fourth) of 7 in handicap at Kempton (7f) on reappearance 32 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 42205-3

(14)

Media Shooter^p²⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 87| D

25/1

Cheekpieces on first time, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Musselburgh (7f, good to firm) last August. Goes well on AW so could figure if fully primed for this first run since.

Form: 574671-

(12)

Hiromichi^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: George Bass| T: J Channon| OR: 83| D

50/1

Dual winner of 1m handicaps last season but disappointed on last month's Newmarket reappearance. Needs to have come on a lot.

Form: 14179-0

(5)

Zip^v⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| CD

16/1

Four-time C&D winner, the latest in November. Respectable seventh of 15 in handicap (7/1) at Doncaster (7f, good) 42 days ago, doing too much too soon.

Form: 15-4327

(9)

Atlantic Gamble³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽³⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 83

25/1

A big success story in handicaps last season. winning 6 times. Only tenth of 12 in handicap (10/1) at Kempton (1mf) on reappearance 34 days ago but the outing was presumably needed.

Form: 11311-0

(6)

Woodstock^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Joanna Mason| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 83| D

16/1

14/1, creditable third of 9 in handicap at Redcar (7f, good to firm) 20 days ago, running on. That form has been franked. Each-way claims.

Form: 1675-03

(10)

Benacre⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: C Johnston| OR: 82| CD

13/2

Ended a losing run in a C&D handicap 9 days ago. This is a deeper race and he doesn't have the profile of one likely to follow up.

Form: 78-5251

(13)

Eldrickjones²³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Rowan Scott| T: Roger Fell| OR: 82| CD

10/1

Below par when last seen in the autumn but he won this race off 3 lb higher last year and a revival can't be discounted back from a break.

Form: 058978-

Non-Runners

(11)

Isla Kai⁵⁹⁶

Weight: 9-4| Age: 7

T: N Tinkler J: Faye McManoman

Forecasts

Apotheosis (10/3), Skukuza (9/2), United Approach (9/2), Benacre (13/2), Local Hero (8/1), Eldrickjones (10/1), Grand Karat (14/1), Zip (16/1), Woodstock (16/1), Isla Kai (16/1), Thunder Roar (22/1), Atlantic Gamble (25/1), Media Shooter (25/1), Hiromichi (50/1)

A useful and competitive handicap. Considering he'd been off for 10 months SKUKUZA's Haydock reappearance was encouraging and he can build on that promise now. Grand Karat has a strong AW record and is another who should be sharper for last month's seasonal return. United Approach, who was a place ahead of Grand Karat at Kempton, and Thunder Roar complete the shortlist.